What are authorised premises
When deciding whether or not to grant a pharmacy business licence, the Council must consider if the premises for the pharmacy business are authorised premises. The Pharmacy Business Ownership Act 2024 (PBO Act) provides that premises are authorised premises if the premises:
- are not located in, or directly accessible from, a supermarket; and
- meet the standards prescribed by regulation.
A supermarket means a premises used primarily for selling a range of food, beverages, groceries and other domestic goods.
Pharmacy businesses in or directly accessible from a supermarket
Section 220 of the PBO Act provides a limited exception to the restriction on a pharmacy business being located in, or directly accessible from, a supermarket, for existing businesses only. The exception only applies if, on 28 March 2024, the business was operating at a premises that is in or directly accessible from a supermarket. The exception applies for as long as the business is continually carried out by the same owner. The exception will not apply, for example, if the business changes ownership or relocates to different premises.
If your pharmacy business operates from premises that are in or directly accessible from a supermarket, you should carefully how the PBO Act applies to your circumstances and seek legal advice if needed.
Premises standards
The standards that pharmacy premises must meet to be considered authorised premises are prescribed in the Pharmacy Business Ownership Regulation 2025(PBO Regulation).
For more information on the premises standards review the Guidance Note – Standards for premises located on the ‘apply for a licence’ page.
When submitting an application for a pharmacy business licence, applicants must declare that the pharmacy premises complies with the required premises standards. Supporting evidence is not required as part of the application documentation. Compliance will instead be verified by the Council through premises inspections when required.
Premises inspections
The Council is currently developing its regulatory approach regarding inspections. It is anticipated that it will be similar to other jurisdictions where there may be inspections related to an application, routine inspections based on a cycle, inspections triggered by a complaint or notification and targeted inspections reserved for emerging risks.
In all instances a risk-based approach will be used to triage and prioritise inspections.
Relocating a pharmacy premises
Existing owners of existing pharmacy businesses
From 1 November 2025, existing owners of existing pharmacy businesses will have a one-year transitional period to apply for a licence (unless the two-year transitional provisions for corporate shareholders and corporate beneficiaries applies).
Provided the ownership of the pharmacy business does not change, relocating an existing pharmacy business during the transitional period will not trigger an immediate requirement under the PBO Act to apply for a licence, (i.e., the transitional periods will continue to apply).
However, if you relocate the existing pharmacy business during the transitional period, you will need to notify the Council of the change in premises. See Notifications under the 2001 Act to find out how to notify the Council.
Licensed pharmacy businesses
If your pharmacy is licensed, please go to Update an existing licence for information on how to apply to change the licenced premises.